Michigan Muskie Alliance

Anyone have a recommended reel repair shop/person?

I've got two reels with problems. Both 5500 C3's.
One when you push in the button hard it won't reingage. You've got to keep trying to coax it to engage.

The second if you stop the handle very abrubtly makes a clicking noise similar to the bigger reels line out alarm. The levelwind continues to operate when this happens despite he handle being stopped. This reel also seems to have a terrible anti-reverse system ith lots of backlash.

I've tried and tried to figure them out and I'm at my wits end.


I also have an Ambassader 523XL. The old lower profile reels (magnetic anti-backlash, quick change spool etc) from the early 90's. It is the large model with line clicker etc. My question is how durable are these reels? I've had it for a long time but have VERY little time on it. Wear and tear wise, it's basically new.

I also have a 5000 series Ultra Cast. I used this for a few years bass fishing heavy spinnerbaits. Anyone else use the Ultra Cast reels? any durability issues. I know it has a thumbar but otherwise should be rock solid like other Abu products.

I also picked up a 5600 C4 at the Milwaukee musky expo. At this point I'm reduced to three reels.

LonB,
I always send my ABU's to Tom at www.minnetonkaoutdoors.com for repair and yearly maintenance. He is a whizz on ABU Garcia products.

LonB:

Try ABU directly at their repair facility in Iowa. Everytime I've had issues with mine (and unfortunately since Berkley bought them out it's a lot more often then I'd like) I send it to them and they fix for free or, if it is too far gone, agree to replace it for free (if a fairly new reel) or give you one heck of a discount on the replacement.

pure fishing in Spirit Lake Iowa. If you like I could email you the address Sunday from work.

From what I've heard it's a good idea to call first, they might give you an RA# (return authorization #). I don't have any first hand knowledge of this because in 20+ years I've never sent an Abu in for repair.

Telephone: (800) 237-5539

because you bought new ones or are you still using the originals??? I burned one up on 20-70 pound kings in Alaska and they gave me a new one.

MuskyDan wrote:because you bought new ones or are you still using the originals??? I burned one up on 20-70 pound kings in Alaska and they gave me a new one.

Every reel I have is still working and in use. Sure I've had to replace pawls and just put new drags in a couple of them two years ago. I have one that I need to pull apart that I think I toasted the gears on last year because I engaged the reel in mid-cast by mistake. This wouldn't have been a big deal normally but it was with a mag Dawg on a BOMB cast, it was a mistake on my part and not the fault of the reel.